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East New Britain Governor Nakikus Konga has told his people that he will push for the province’s autonomy. Speaking at a gathering in the Lassul-Baining local level government of the Gazelle district last weekend, Konga said: “Autonomy for East New Britain is one of the priorities of my provincial government. As the country is aware the push for ENB autonomy has been going on for the past 14 years but with very little headway made.”

The CNMI’s economic outlook has improved, but it faces growing labor shortages that may affect its ability to repay public debt, the U.S. Government Accountability Office said in a report titled “U.S. Territories: Public Debt Outlook.” An independent, nonpartisan agency that is often called the U.S. congressional “watchdog,” the GAO reiterated its earlier finding that removing all permitted foreign workers from the CNMI would result in a GDP decline of 26 to 62 percent — “a relatively large negative effect on the economy.”

The opposition SODELPA party in Fiji says it's disappointed by the United Nations decision to reject a petition from the people of West Papua calling for an act of self determination. It said the world body will regret the decision in time to come. The leader of the opposition Ro Teimumu Kepa said she also deplored what she called the Fiji government's abandonment and betrayal of West Papuans by supporting Indonesia in return for aid.

Attorney General, Talauega Eleasalo Ale believes there is no need for the American Samoa Government to apologize to the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles (LA), for the incident that resulted in ASG officials arresting and detaining a Chinese man who showed up at the Post Office to claim a box with Chinese passports inside few months ago. “Why should our government apologize?” Talauega asked. “There is no need to apologize. Law enforcement officials did their job, and when their investigation was completed, the Chinese man was released and no charges were filed against him.”

The Cook Islands government is making a new push for membership of the United Nations. With the country set to attain developed nation status next year, Finance minister Mark Brown says there’s a compelling argument for the Cook Islands to become a member the global intergovernmental organisation. With the country reaching developed status, it would become important for the Cook Islands to have an increased role on the international stage, he says.

A new resolution by Sen. Michael San Nicolas, D-Dededo calls on Guam's congresswoman to seek Indian tribe status for Chamorros in order to protect native lands. According to Resolution 255-34, "federal recognition of the native Chamorros as an Indian tribe would allow the Chamorro people to incorporate Chamorro Land Trust lands as tribal land to the benefit of the native Chamorro population." The resolution comes after a recent lawsuit, in which the U.S. government sued the government of Guam and the Chamorro Land Trust Commission for allegedly violating the Fair Housing Act.

The Government is providing K3 million [US$920,000] for security operations in Southern Highlands in the wake of unrest and civil disobedience triggered by the declaration of the winner of the provincial seat. Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari said the funding was among a list of undertakings resolved by the National Security Advisory Committee which met yesterday in Port Moresby.

Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai has promised the thousands evacuated from the island of Ambae that they will return home. Mr Salwai visited evacuation centres in Penama and Sanma provinces yesterday where more than 11,000 people have been taken since the Manaro Voui volcano began belching ash and smoke over a fortnight ago.

Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, was admitted at the Moto’otua Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit yesterday. This was confirmed by several employees at the National Health Services who spoke to the Samoa Observer on the condition of anonymity. “He was brought into the hospital before 12 noon,” said one employee.

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres would be leaving on Saturday to meet with senior officials of the U.S. Department of Defense as well as congressional leaders in Washington, D.C. to continue discussions on the proposed CW-1 program extensions. According to press secretary Kevin Bautista, Torres was scheduled to leave for the mainland last Wednesday, but his medical adviser told him to postpone his departure due to an infection.

Pacific Islands Report is a nonprofit news publication of the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Offered as a free service to readers, PIR provides an edited digest of news, commentary and analysis from across the Pacific Islands region, Monday - Friday.